Cobble Hill's Long Island College Hospital (LICH) Bailouts

Cobble Hill's Long Island College Hospital (LICH) received a $40 million State bailout, reports the New York Times. Two less fortunate hospitals folded this year, North General in Harlem and St. Vincent's in the Village.

Last year, LICH received a $22 million State bailout. Apparently, it wasn't enough.

This bailout may fare better because it's a merger with SUNY Downstate Medical Center. According to the Times, "SUNY Downstate was already running a major part of its teaching program out of LICH." Now, the two entities will operate one hospital, University Hospital of Brooklyn, and LICH will have access to State funds.

Why are New York and U. S. hospitals floundering? They charge so much for treatment it seems they should be serving caviar.

In some cases, such as St. Vincent's, the main problem is mismanagement. LICH also had "a tumultuous relationship" with its managing company, reports The Brooklyn Paper.

In addition, hospitals have enormous staff, equipment, and supply expenses. They "should" be able to cover expenses with patients' insurance and cash payments. However, life is never that simple.

Given our present economy, many people don't have insurance or cash. Hospitals treat them and "eat" the cost.

Given our lawyer-inundated society (ambulance chasers), hospitals are sued. In return, their insurance premiums are high.

There are many complicated reasons for hospitals' failures but mismanagement, exorbitant operating expenses, destitute patients, lawsuits, and insurance premiums are major ones. They are blaring beacons of our screwed-up, Government-fantasized healthcare system.

Times are so hard some hospitals run unnecessary tests and perform questionable procedures on insured patients to try to survive.

So, insured Cobble Hill be well-informed and participate fully in your medical care. We live in a time when patients can't just do things because "the doctor said so."

Stay well, till next time, Cobble Hill.

Sources:

ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS, "Merger Will Save Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, Officials Say," The NY Times

Andy Campbel, "Paterson gives $40M to SUNY Downstate in advance of LICH takeover," The Brooklyn Paper